updated 02:10 pm EDT, Fri September 23, 2011

FCC net neutrality rules go live November 20

The net neutrality rules introduced by the FCC last year are going to take effect on November 20, the agency confirmed. It's expected the rules will result in multiple legal and congressional arguments. The rules don't allow broadband providers to block legal content and also require that they be honest about network management techniques like throttling.

On wired networks, the conditions are generally tougher and don't allow unfair levels of priority for certain traffic over others.

Verizon, historically opposed to the rules, has also already promised to take the FCC to court once the rules are published. Both it and MetroPCS also tried suing prematurely, the latter to avoid having to change a policy on Netflix access that was already violating net neutrality terms. Their combined gesture has largely been seen as a symbolic gesture to voice their opposition before they took more serious action.

The rules were adopted in a three to two vote that was split largely along partisan lines, with Republicans opposing neutrality in line with their pro-corporate stance.

Public advocacy groups not financed by carriers have argued that the neutrality laws don't go far enough and that the tougher conditions applied to wired access don't apply to wireless.